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SVASE VC Breakfast Club Event with the Mayfield Fund

Another SVASE  VC Breakfast Club session is coming up on Thursday, March 23rd in San Jose.  It’s an informal round-table where up to 10 entrepreneurs get to deliver a pitch, then answer questions and get critiqued by a VC Partner. We’ve had VC’s from Draper Fisher, Hummer Winblad, Kleiner Perkins, Mayfield, Mohr Davidow, Emergence Capital …etc.

Thursday’s featured VC is John Stockton, Venture Partner, Mayfield Fund.  The Zvents post  has all the info and a map, but please remember to click through to register either from zvents or directly here.  

These sessions are an incredible opportunity for Entrepreneurs, most of whom would probably have a hard time getting through the door to a VC Partners.   Since I’ve been through quite a few of these sessions, both as Entrepreneur and Moderator, let me share a few thoughts:

  • It’s a pressure-free environment, with no Powerpoint presentations, Business Plans…etc,  just casual conversation, but it does not mean you should come unprepared!
  • Bring an Executive Summary, some VC’s like it, others don’t.
  • Follow a structure, don’t just talk freely about what you would like to do, or even worse, spend all your time describing the problem, without addressing what your solution is.
  • Don’t forget “small things” like the Team, Product, Market..etc.
  • It would not hurt to mention how much you are looking for, and how you would use the funds…
  • Write down and practice your pitch, be ready to deliver a compelling story in 5 minutes.  You will have more time, but believe me, whatever your practice time was, when you are on the spot, you will likely take twice as long to deliver your story.
  • Last, but not least, please be on time!  I am not kidding… some of you know why I have to even bring this up.

See you on Thursday! Zbutton 

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Socializr Isolatr Snubster Networkr Backlashr

Isolatr, Snubster, Socializr – which is the odd one out?

TechCrunch has a humorous post about Isolatr and Snubster (hey, what’s with the “e”?).  
I’ve previously written about Socializr – Friendster 2.0? when all it had was a suspicious job post, a funny caricature on flickr, and the rumor that it’s started by Friendster founder Jonathan Abrams.  I emailed my post to Jonathan, hoping to get clarification.  After a few weeks of silence I leaned towards considering it a prank.

Well, it may just be real.  Nothing confirmed, just a few signs of life:

Socializr’s Raising About Half a Million Funding: A new stealth social network, Socializr, founded by Friendster founder Jonathan Abrams, is raising about $0.5 million seed funding, and has raise about $0.35 million out of that, a birdie told me at the conf.

Toni’s Companies: Socializr, Inc, San Francisco, CA US, Executive Assistant, Office Manager”  Wow, the job post was not a fake!  Way to go, Jonathan, she is hot and sings in a band!

Examples include eVite’s latest attempts to include pictures and matching, Zvents, Socializr (the next great thing from Friendster founder, Jonathan Abrams.  The funny graphic at this URL I think is Jonathan’s stealth-mode dose of healthy cynicism at what’s going on in this space.) Jonathan is not showing Socializr publicly yet, but it’s very cool

So now I am starting to believe Socializr is real.  And we know they will be big, they have the secret formula that Friendster probably missed, the hot blonde who sings!   I’m proud that it was first announced here!

Update (3/15)  Related posts:

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SVASE VC Breakfast Club with Lightspeed Venture Partners

Another SVASE  VC Breakfast Club session is coming up on Thursday, March 16th in San Jose.  It’s an informal round-table where up to 10 entrepreneurs get to deliver a pitch, then answer questions and get critiqued by a VC Partner. We’ve had VC’s from Draper Fisher, Hummer Winblad, Kleiner Perkins, Mayfield, Mohr Davidow, Emergence Capital …etc.

Thursday’s featured VC is Jake Seid, General Partner, Lightspeed Venture Partners.  The Zvents post  has all the info and a map, but please remember to click through to register either from zvents or directly here.  

These sessions are an incredible opportunity for Entrepreneurs, most of whom would probably have a hard time getting through the door to a VC Partners.   Since I’ve been through quite a few of these sessions, both as Entrepreneur and Moderator, let me share a few thoughts:

  • It’s a pressure-free environment, with no Powerpoint presentations, Business Plans…etc,  just casual conversation, but it does not mean you should come unprepared!
  • Bring an Executive Summary, some VC’s like it, others don’t.
  • Follow a structure, don’t just talk freely about what you would like to do, or even worse, spend all your time describing the problem, without addressing what your solution is.
  • Don’t forget “small things” like the Team, Product, Market..etc.
  • It would not hurt to mention how much you are looking for, and how you would use the funds…
  • Write down and practice your pitch, be ready to deliver a compelling story in 5 minutes.  You will have more time, but believe me, whatever your practice time was, when you are on the spot, you will likely take twice as long to deliver your story.
  • Last, but not least, please be on time!  I am not kidding… some of you know why I have to even bring this up.

See you on Thursday! Zbutton 

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Zoli 3.0 Launched

(GUpdated)

In a comment to Robert’s Scoble’s “resume vs. blog” post I promised to launch a “scientific”

test soon … here we go; except that it’s not a test. It’s real: I’m pleased to announce the limited, invitation-only launch of Zoli 3.0.

Unlike some perpetual Beta products,

(see update below) Zoli 3.0 is not a beta, this is the final, stable release.

The Application is strongly recommended for software companies that have a core technology / product and are about to scale up, conquer their market, specifically needing help in one or any combination of the following areas:

  • General Management
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Alliances
  • Product Management
  • Marketing
  • Professional Services

Zoli 3.0 has been field-tested in both the Enterprise Software world (SAP, IBM, Deloitte, KPMG…etc), as well as with several startups. It is available for traditional on-premise implementation, or can be served up as SaaS ZaaS. Either way, there are no upfront costs, just pay-as-you-go.

Please check the detailed product specs (click on Full Profile) and some additional info (scroll down). If you’d like to put the power of Zoli 3.0 to work for you, remember, availability is limited, so please either comment at the end of this post, or email zoli3.5 at gmail. Why 3.5? Because for a very limited time we are running a promotion: for the price of 3.0 you will receive the upgraded 3.5.

For additional information please scroll through the Release Notes.

Release 3.0

Current release, see above

Release 2.0

The original robust enterprise product was completely reworked to support the new entrepreneurial environment. New communication, marketing, PR, collaboration modules were added, incorporating the use of blogs and wikis. It’s AJAX-driven, earlier sharp edges were replaced with rounded corners, and it comes in a variety of pastel, opaque colors.

Release 2.0 has been successfully deployed at several startups, full-time or on a part-time basis, and it also proved useful in a non-profit environment. In true Web 2.0 style it was made available for free, which presented a problem for its creator, when it turned out that the brick-and-mortar world (banks, gas stations, groceries) had not joined the 2.0 revolution yet. The need for a profitable business model resulted in the creation of Release 3.0.

Release 1.0

This is the original enterprise version that got deployed throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Canada and all over the US. Although it was predominantly used by large corporations, but typically in new, startup-like business units, where its application resulted in growth from 0 to the $8–$13M range, in several cases leading to acquisition.

Releases 0.1 – 0.9

Ahh, the early, experimental, careless years! The (Artificial) Intelligence module was enhanced through application at University, worldwide field-tests, and the product was put to some experimental use like the creation of a free professional Association in a then-communist country, and backstage – offstage personal translation for visiting performers (Peter Gabriel, Sting, Brice Springsteen, the Queen and Cliff Richard).

We’re all exited by the anticipated momentum this new launch will bring to your business and again ask for inquiries either in thee form of comments below, or via email to zoli3.5 at gmail.com.

Update (3/13/2006): In response to several email inquiries: even though I chose a humorous way to post it, I really am looking for an opportunity matching the above criteria.

Update (3/15/2006): OK, you no-evil company, I really don’t like you. As soon as tease you for being perpetual beta, you “come out“. (hat tip: OM Malik and Jeff Nolan). Oh, well, here’s another Forever Beta, from the same folks.

Update (3/5/2007): Apparently I’m not the only one with version numbers. Anne Zelenka has just incremented her version number to 2.1 🙂

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TechDirt Greenhouse

I’ll be at the full-day TechDirt Greenhouse event today.  I’m looking forward to meeting people, hearing of new ideas. 

Preliminary info from Techdirt:

While I agree with Mike that the value of an event like this not only comes from the presenter, but also EVERYONE else attending, I still think publishing a list in advance is helpful.. except that you don’t do it old-fashoned conference-style (polished pages with the presenters bio’s), but in the tradition of TechCrunch parties, and all the  *.camp events.  Perhaps next time (Mike?).

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Skobee = Evite 2.0. A Web 2.0 Recipe

Simple recipe:

Evite 1.) Take a good old business model, in this case evite.  (hm, I take it back, evite has never been a business, it had to be acquired, but it’s a good service).

2.) Sprinkle it with some new features (ahh.. again, self-correction, these are not really new features, just existing ones done more comfortably, using natural language processing vs. forms, polls…etc)

3.) Add a cute 2.0–style Plans_splash user interface.

4.) Get announced on TechCrunch.

Off you go, Scobee Skobee

Have I missed anything?

P.S.  It’s cute though, next time I organize a party I may use this instead of Evite – but will this be a business? 

 

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SVASE VC Breakfast Club with Sigma Partners

Another SVASE  VC Breakfast Club session is coming up on Thursday, March 9th in San Jose.  It’s an informal round-table where up to 10 entrepreneurs get to deliver a pitch, then answer questions and get critiqued by a VC Partner. We’ve had VC’s from Draper Fisher, Hummer Winblad, Kleiner Perkins, Mayfield, Mohr Davidow, Emergence Capital …etc.

Thursday’s featured VC is Gregory C. Gretsch, Managing Director, Sigma Partners.  The Zvents post  has all the info and a map Zbutton , but please remember to click through to register either from zvents or directly here.  

These sessions are an incredible opportunity for Entrepreneurs, most of whom would probably have a hard time getting through the door to a VC Partners.   Since I’ve been through quite a few of these sessions, both as Entrepreneur and Moderator, let me share a few thoughts:

  • It’s a pressure-free environment, with no Powerpoint presentations, Business Plans…etc,  just casual conversation, but it does not mean you should come unprepared!
  • Bring an Executive Summary, some VC’s like it, others don’t.
  • Follow a structure, don’t just talk freely about what you would like to do, or even worse, spend all your time describing the problem, without addressing what your solution is.
  • Don’t forget “small things” like the Team, Product, Market..etc.
  • It would not hurt to mention how much you are looking for, and how you would use the funds…
  • Write down and practice your pitch, be ready to deliver a compelling story in 5 minutes.  You will have more time, but believe me, whatever your practice time was, when you are on the spot, you will likely take twice as long to deliver your story.
  • Last, but not least, please be on time!  I am not kidding… some of you know why I have to even bring this up.

See you on Thursday!

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Google Calendar and the TechCrunch Babel

(Updated)

Here’s proof  on how International TechCrunch’s readership is.  This morning Mike leaked some information about Google’s long awaited calendar,  which apparently won’t be called GCalendar, but CL2  (is that a chemical formula or what? ).

Before we lazy Californians woke up, he already had 89 comments, close to half non-English.  By the time I finished writing this, comments are up to 103.. see samples below.  (Update: the number is likely over 103 now, but my blogging platform is

down, who knows when I’ll be able to post it .. and in the meantime

TechCrunch appears to be down, too .. what a day!)

Btw., where is Chandler?

  1. Pingback by pixelschrubber » Blog Archive » CL2 — March 8, 2006 @ 12:59 am

    […] Schalalalala…er wir entwickelt: Der CL2, also known as Google Calendar. Mehr darüber hier: http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/03/08/exclusive-screenshots-google-calendar/ […]

  2. Pingback by AboutDigital.ru » CL2 — March 8, 2006 @ 1:01 am

    […] Не буду переводить и комментировать эту стью в TechCrunch. Лучше посмотрите сами и оцените! Впечатляет! Тяжелые времена будут у других календарных сервисов… Google рулит! […]

  3. Trackback by techmonster — March 8, 2006 @ 1:04 am

    Google Kalender CL2…

    Schon lange wurde darüber geschrieben und es gingen auch einige Bilder durchs Netz – jetzt tauchen erneut Bilder des bald erwarteten Google Kalender CL2 im Netz auf. Michael Arrington schreibt in seinem Blog das er nun neue Bilder hat….

  4. Trackback by Julien Carnelos Blog — March 8, 2006 @ 1:20 am

    Le Google Calendar arrive……

    Vu sur TechCrunch,
    le calendrier google pointe le bout de son nez….

  5. Pingback by Luca Mondini » Blog Archive » — March 8, 2006 @ 1:30 am

    […] Sono disponibili in anteprima su TechCrunch, i primi screenshot di Google Calendar, applicazione di cui era previsto il lancio qualche mese fa. CL2, questo il nome del progetto, è invece ancora in beta e lo sarà, almeno secondo quello che riporta l’autore del post, Michael Arrington. La fuga di notizie, grazie ad uno dei 200 beta tester coinvolti, ci lascia intuire che CL2 sarà assolutamente integrato con GMail e permetterà la creazione, la ricerca e la condivisione di eventi. E’ probabile inoltre che l’aggregazione di eventi, in stile Eventful, sia implementata. Ai fan della grande G o delle applicazioni Web 2.0 non resta che aspettare, io continuerò ad utilizzare nel frattempo il mio D*I*Y Planner… […]

  6. Trackback by Abundando — March 8, 2006 @ 1:44 am

    Más pantallazos de Google Calendar…

    Podéis encontrarlos en un post de Techcrunch: Exclusive Screenshots: Google Calendar….

  7. Pingback by Details und Screenshots zu Google Calendar at RAINonline — March 8, 2006 @ 1:46 am

    […] Auf TechCrunch und GigaOM findet ihr die ersten Details und Screenshot zu “CL2&Prime – oder Google Calendar. […]

  8. Pingback by Textw�ste » Blog Archive » Google Calendar — March 8, 2006 @ 2:27 am

    […] Im Moment wehen einige Ger�chte �ber ein neues Google Produkt durch das Internet: den “Google Calendar”. TechCrunch hat jetzt Screenshots ver�ffentlicht und gibt auch sonst ein wenig Einblick. […]

  9. Trackback by meneame.net — March 8, 2006 @ 2:41 am

    Imagenes exclusivas del nuevo google calendar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…

    Primeras imagenes oficiales del proximo lanzamiento de google…

  10. Pingback by 还没想好 » 真正的Google CL2 — March 8, 2006 @ 2:44 am

    […] 更多图片 […]

  11. Pingback by Las capturas de Google Calendar — Proletarium — March 8, 2006 @ 2:48 am

    […] TEch Crunch es como el New York Times de internet, tiene acceso a cosas que nadie tiene, hoy han publicado las primeras capturas dignas de Google Calendar (¡por fin!): […]

  12. Pingback by BlueAce » Google’s Office komt dichterbij dankzij CL2 — March 8, 2006 @ 2:51 am

    […] TechCrunch heeft de scoop met nieuwe screenshots van een nog te releasen kalender dienst van Google: CL2. CL2 makes it easy — even effortless — to keep track of all the events in your life and compare them to what your friends and family have going on in theirs.    […] 

  13. Trackback by meneame.net — March 8, 2006 @ 2:54 am

    Anlise do Google Calendar…

    Ainda no abriu mas esta revista j fez a anlise. Parece interessante….

  14. Pingback by google calendar at quintal do xanato — March 8, 2006 @ 3:01 am

    […] jah ha algum tempo que os rumores comecaram a aparecer mas desta parece que eh mesmo a serio. podem ver com o que se vai parecer o cl2 (eh o nome da coisa e ainda bem porque nohs jah temos um cl), e sempre ajuda a passar o tempo ateh estar disponivel. […]

  15. Trackback by Error500 — March 8, 2006 @ 3:04 am

    Imágenes de Google Calendar ¿o CL2?…

    Primeras imágenes de lo que será el Google Calendar, aunque al parecer el nombre oficial será CL2. Las tienen en …

  16. Pingback by Desinformados » Primeras im�genes de Google Calendar — March 8, 2006 @ 3:42 am

    […] La gente de TechCrunch (c�mo no) se ha hecho con las primeras im�genes de Google Calendar CL2, lo cual est� creando un buzz impresionante. Al contrario que los anteriores fakes, Michael Arrington afirma que estos screenshots fueron filtrados por trabajadores de Google, e incluye todas las im�genes con que se ha hecho y una buena descripci�n del servicio. Puedes verlo en este enlace. […]

    Pingback by MTYBlogs » CL2 — March 8, 2006 @ 4:07 am

  17. […] Al parecer este será el nombre del Google Calendar que ya arrojó sus primeras imágenes que pueden ser vistas en Techcrunch y una explicación mas detallada la puede ver en Error 500. […]

  18. Pingback by .. — March 8, 2006 @ 4:17 am

    […] 然後文章中列出一些cl2的功能,看起來相當不錯,真令人期待 Exclusive Screenshots: Google Calendar […]

  19. Trackback by kbglob — March 8, 2006 @ 4:26 am

    Google Calender…

    Ya estan empezando a aparecer algunos datos adicionales y screenshots del Google Calender.
    Tiene la misma interfaz que Gmail, y la simpleza de todas las aplicaciones de Google.

    ……

  20. Pingback by .:: www.marlonguerios.com ::. » Google Calendar em vista — March 8, 2006 @ 4:27 am

    […] Para saber mais: Exclusive Screenshots: Google Calendar […]

  21. Pingback by Effair | Billet | Google Calendar — March 8, 2006 @ 4:29 am

    […] Des screenshots de CL2, le nouveau logiciel de calendrier de Google. […]

  22. Pingback by savek blog » Archiwum bloga » Screenshots: Google Calendar — March 8, 2006 @ 6:25 am

    […] Screeny z nowego narzędzia Google: Exclusive Screenshots: Google Calendar. […]

  23. Pingback by Macsira.com » Capturas de Google Calendar — March 8, 2006 @ 6:28 am

    […] Aquí podeis ver el resto « Instalar Linux en un iPod 5G   […]

  24. Pingback by Blog de Dr. Max Glaser » Blog Archive » Mas informaciones sobre Google Calender — March 8, 2006 @ 6:40 am

    […] Hoy dia, en el blog de techcrunch han aparecido una serie de screenshots de Google Calendar. […]

  25. Pingback by ENGRENAGEM – Media e Tecnologia: blog sobre jornalismo, citizen journalism, blogosfera e novas tecnologias — March 8, 2006 @ 6:55 am

    […] Uma fuga fez chegar � Web screenshots do Google Calendar. […]

Update (3/8): Related posts:

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SaaS vs. Open Source for SMB’s? A No-Brainer.

(Update)
I have to take issue with Paul Gillin’s approach as he discusses whether SMB’s are better off with SaaS or Open Source Applications. If we equate Open Source to downloadable, on-premise installed software, I have no doubt, and have stated it before that the only good answer is SaaS. But, hold on, a few minutes later we’ll see these two options may not be mutually exclusive for long.

Paul analyzes several criteria:

  • cost
  • speed of deployment
  • customization
  • reliability
  • data ownership
  • vendor viability

These are all issues well-discussed on the web, and although Paul does not explicitly say, my reading is that he also leans towards the SaaS conclusion. The problem is that this criteria-by-criteria approach works well with a typical (mid-size) company where some level of IT expertise is present. Small Business America is very different from the web-savy geeky software startups; the majority are more traditional businesses with no CIO, IT department, in fact often without any IT support whatsoever. While the two main obstacles SMB’s face with any on-premise implementation are cost and (lack of) IT expertise, you can’t just translate the latter into cost – i.e. the cost of hiring full-time IT support. The opportunity cost of Management venturing into IT hiring and project decisions instead of focusing on their primary business makes this an impractical approach, leaving us with only one choice: SaaS.

Another issue not discussed in the article is integration. Open Source or SaaS, getting several packages work together requires IT and business process expertise, which typically means hiring expensive consultants. Therefore, I would go one step further: not only SaaS is the best choice for most SMB’s but they should seek to minimize the number of providers, i.e. the best choice is to use integrated All-In-One solutions.

The current undisputed leader in this field is NetSuite, but as they follow Salesforce.com’s footsteps and move upstream chasing midsize businesses, they leave an opening for up-and-coming challenger 24SevenOffice, which focuses solely on SMB’s, and covers a wider range of business functionality than the incumbent.

This is the situation today. Now, let’s revisit the original question: SaaS or Open Source? A tiny startup named SQLFusion is working on making that question obsolete. The dilemma with Open Source: a lot of good applications are available, but they are written by geeks for geeks… you really have to be quite knowledgeable to download and implement them. Example: at one of the startups I am advising I use SugarCRM over the internet. Starting to use it was a no-brainer, but when I looked at the prerequisites and the process of installing it myself, my head started spinning. No way, this is not for me! Open Source Fusion, which I hear is within days of opening for a limited beta will bridge the gap between availability and usability of Open Source Programs, by offering such apps to be used over the Internet. In true On-Demand fashion, maintenance, upgrades all happen in the background, one can start using the programs without implementing them. So it will no longer be SaaS or Open Source, but SaaS and Open Source.

The first incarnation of Open Source Fusion will provide access to individual applications, still leaving the integration dilemma for SMB’s, but the technology under the hood enables the company to later offer an integration layer between the key applications it serves up.

So the future is Open Source Software as a Service. Hm, here’s an ugly acronym: OSSaaS (?)

Update (3/6). Releated posts:

Update (5/23): Stefan over at The Small Business Blog discusses the issue; his company, WinWeb is expected to offer Open Source apps as a service soon.


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Are we Men or Children? But Sometimes the Children are Men :-)

This is one of those cases where I had the urge to quickly comment on a post by Ken; then all of a sudden I realized it has it’s own place on my blog.

Ken laments on how  “little blogospats that are popping up all over the Blogosphere sound more like my kids fighting over a Polly Pocket than anything resembling reasoned conversation.” 
He refers to “Roy Schestowitz, all worked up because Scoble can’t build a computer out of wood and pine sap”  Roy goes a step further though: “Scoble cannot tell his ass from his face”  Hm, I have to agree with Ken, “the second you stop talking about the issue and start attacking your opponent, you have lost. Game over.” 
Random Bytes comes to Scoble’s defense: “I’ve chatted with him and he definitely left me with the impression that he didn’t wear his pants on his shoulders … There are all types of geeks out here. Some of us, I guess, are just ass-faces. Others, like Robert’s reader, seem to be just mainly asses.”    On the pants, issue, let’s refer to the expert, who knows Robert doesn’t wear his pants on his shoulders. He wears no pants at all, everyone knows he goes Naked.:-)

On a more serious note, I have news for Roy (and others): Technology’s primary role is to advance the lives of all of us, and guess what, that means mostly for non-technologists. We need  the ‘hardcore’ technologists who create it, the non-techie users (the rest of the world, which happens to be the majority), and the in-betweeners, who explain it, help us select and use it.

Ken, on a brighter note, to your “Are we men or are we children”:  well sometimes the children are menHere’s a blog worth reading.  Ben Casnocha was definitely a child when he started his first business (see USA Today Article). His not some kind of business-whiz-kid only. He eats books for lunch, reviewing a hundred or so per year. He is Captain of his high-schools basketball team.  He turned 18 a few days ago, but as a new subscriber to his blog, I think I’ve uncovered a big trick: he really is 28. At least intellectually. 

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